The twelve days that I had been in the isle were spent in this
way, and I had brought to land all that one pair of hands could
lift; though if the sea had been still calm, I might have brought
the whole ship, piece by piece.

The last time I swam to the wreck, the wind blew so hard, that I
made up my mind to go on board next time at low tide. I found
some tea and some gold coin; but as to the gold, it made me laugh
to look at it. "O drug!" said I, "Thou art of no use to me! I
care not to save thee. Stay where thou art, till the ship go
down, then go thou with it!"

Still, I thought I might as well just take it; so I put it in a
piece of the sail, and threw it on deck that I might place it on
the raft. Bye-and-bye, the wind blew from the shore, so I had to
swim back with all speed; for I knew that at the turn of the
tide, I should find it hard work to get to land at all. But in
spite of the high wind, I came to my home all safe. At dawn of
day I put my head out, and cast my eyes on the sea. When lo! no
ship was there!

This change in the face of things, and the loss of such a friend,
quite struck me down. Yet I was glad to think that I had brought
to shore all that could be of use to me. I had now to look out
for some spot where I could make my home. Half way up a hill
there was a small plain, four or five score feet long, and twice
as broad; and as it had a full view of the sea, I thought that
it would be a good place for my house.